The German Grand Prix could be spiced up by Bridgestone's decision to allocate super soft and hard tyre compounds, according to Williams technical director Sam Michael.
Bridgestone has opted to supply its softest and hardest tyres for the race in the hope of creating a more exciting contest. Tyre degradation played a key role in making the Canadian Grand Prix a multi-stop, and therefore unpredictable, race and there is hope that the German GP could produce a similar spectacle.
"It will be good for the racing," Michael told AUTOSPORT. "It's possible that there will be more than one pitstop. We've seen that happen at other tracks, so it could definitely happen.
"It has got the potential to throw things up in the air. It's a long time since we've seen tyre blistering on the Bridgestones, so that's probably not going to happen, but it's going to be interesting."
Michael added that the capacity to make differing strategies work is key to making the races more unpredictable.
He pointed to the long first stints on prime tyres that several drivers used to good effect at last week's British Grand Prix as an example of how strategic alternatives can influence the results.
"That's what was good about Silverstone; you could make something different work, which is what Jenson Button and Nico Hulkenberg did. That's pretty rare though. I'm not sure that's going to happen again."
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Showing posts with label Nico Hulkenberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nico Hulkenberg. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Williams confirms Monaco crashes' cause
Williams has confirmed the causes of the separate accidents suffered by Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg during Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
Barrichello hit the barrier at the top of Beau Rivage when something broke at the rear of his FW32, while Hulkenberg crashed into the wall in the tunnel on the opening lap.
The team initially said that it wanted to investigate the causes of the incidents back at the factory, but technical director Sam Michael today confirmed that Barrichello's crash was caused by a rear suspension failure and Hulkenberg's by his front wing, which was damaged at the first corner of the race.
"Rubens had a rear suspension failure," said Michael. "We have a good idea which part is suspect, but to be completely sure we need to await the results of materials tests back at the factory. However, it won't be an issue going forward.
"Nico had a clutch paddle sensor failure on the grid. He then touched the back of the HRT car in Turn 1 and this damaged the front wing mounting pillars. When he entered the tunnel, the front wing eventually failed and he understeered off into the wall."
Michael also confirmed that the failures were not on new parts added with the team's latest upgrade.
"The parts that failed in the race were not new designs and they have been on the car since the start of the season," he said.
He added that the accidents should not stop Williams from pushing forward with another evolution of the FW32 for the next race in Turkey in two weeks.
"Of course we have a significant amount of workload to replace the damaged parts such as the diffusers and the front wings. However, both chassis were undamaged, which is positive," Michael said.
"The FW32 was good in Monaco, certainly an improvement on the previous race, but we acknowledge that we have still got work to do to be more competitive. I am confident that our relative race pace will be an improvement on Barcelona, but as ever much depends on how the other teams manage to move forward too.
"But I can be confident that our direction of development is moving the right way. We have an upgrade plan for Istanbul, but our first priority at the moment is to consolidate the repairs on both race cars."
Barrichello hit the barrier at the top of Beau Rivage when something broke at the rear of his FW32, while Hulkenberg crashed into the wall in the tunnel on the opening lap.
The team initially said that it wanted to investigate the causes of the incidents back at the factory, but technical director Sam Michael today confirmed that Barrichello's crash was caused by a rear suspension failure and Hulkenberg's by his front wing, which was damaged at the first corner of the race.
"Rubens had a rear suspension failure," said Michael. "We have a good idea which part is suspect, but to be completely sure we need to await the results of materials tests back at the factory. However, it won't be an issue going forward.
"Nico had a clutch paddle sensor failure on the grid. He then touched the back of the HRT car in Turn 1 and this damaged the front wing mounting pillars. When he entered the tunnel, the front wing eventually failed and he understeered off into the wall."
Michael also confirmed that the failures were not on new parts added with the team's latest upgrade.
"The parts that failed in the race were not new designs and they have been on the car since the start of the season," he said.
He added that the accidents should not stop Williams from pushing forward with another evolution of the FW32 for the next race in Turkey in two weeks.
"Of course we have a significant amount of workload to replace the damaged parts such as the diffusers and the front wings. However, both chassis were undamaged, which is positive," Michael said.
"The FW32 was good in Monaco, certainly an improvement on the previous race, but we acknowledge that we have still got work to do to be more competitive. I am confident that our relative race pace will be an improvement on Barcelona, but as ever much depends on how the other teams manage to move forward too.
"But I can be confident that our direction of development is moving the right way. We have an upgrade plan for Istanbul, but our first priority at the moment is to consolidate the repairs on both race cars."
Thursday, 29 April 2010
No big Williams update until Monaco
Williams has warned that it could be the Monaco Grand Prix before it makes significant gains, as it will not be introducing as major an upgrade for Spain as many of its rivals are expected to.
The first European race of the season at Catalunya in ten days' time is set to see a huge number of new developments on the cars as teams make the most of being back on their home continent after four flyaway races, and of having a three-week break since Shanghai.
But Williams technical director Sam Michael said his team planned to bring its new parts later.
"We do have some stuff for Barcelona, and that's a good step, but I think the bigger steps will come for Monaco and Istanbul," he said.
Despite looking strong in the final pre-season tests Williams is currently only seventh in the constructors' championship with Rubens Barrichello's eighth place in Australia its best result of 2010.
However Michael remains confident that the FW32 has good potential that just needs to be extracted.
"We've made a lot of changes, so it's taking time to get us a little bit more up to speed," he said.
"We've got a good development programme for the car and a lot of stuff coming through in the next couple of races - Monaco and Istanbul.
"We'll just keep our head down and try and get that stuff on the car as quick as we can."
The first European race of the season at Catalunya in ten days' time is set to see a huge number of new developments on the cars as teams make the most of being back on their home continent after four flyaway races, and of having a three-week break since Shanghai.
But Williams technical director Sam Michael said his team planned to bring its new parts later.
"We do have some stuff for Barcelona, and that's a good step, but I think the bigger steps will come for Monaco and Istanbul," he said.
Despite looking strong in the final pre-season tests Williams is currently only seventh in the constructors' championship with Rubens Barrichello's eighth place in Australia its best result of 2010.
However Michael remains confident that the FW32 has good potential that just needs to be extracted.
"We've made a lot of changes, so it's taking time to get us a little bit more up to speed," he said.
"We've got a good development programme for the car and a lot of stuff coming through in the next couple of races - Monaco and Istanbul.
"We'll just keep our head down and try and get that stuff on the car as quick as we can."
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Williams drivers say car lacking pace
Nico Hulkenberg admitted his Williams was simply not quick enough to achieve a better result at Sepang, despite scoring his first Formula 1 point.
The German had started the race from fifth position thanks to yesterday's rain-hit qualifying, but had to be content with a distant tenth position in toady's race.
Hulkenberg conceded there was not much he could have done due to the lack of pace from the Williams car.
"We picked up a point today, maybe because our car was more reliable, but that's racing," said Hulkenberg. "It was a tough race because we just don't have the pace at the moment.
"I wish we could do better, but we have some work to do to catch up."
Team-mate Rubens Barrichello went on to finish in 12th after nearly stalling his car at the start, something that sent him to the back of the grid from seventh position.
"I don't know what happened at the start, I'll go through that with the team," he said. "From there I went to the back of the field. We tried a different strategy to get us back up, but our car was just not competitive.
"We lost a nice opportunity today."
The German had started the race from fifth position thanks to yesterday's rain-hit qualifying, but had to be content with a distant tenth position in toady's race.
Hulkenberg conceded there was not much he could have done due to the lack of pace from the Williams car.
"We picked up a point today, maybe because our car was more reliable, but that's racing," said Hulkenberg. "It was a tough race because we just don't have the pace at the moment.
"I wish we could do better, but we have some work to do to catch up."
Team-mate Rubens Barrichello went on to finish in 12th after nearly stalling his car at the start, something that sent him to the back of the grid from seventh position.
"I don't know what happened at the start, I'll go through that with the team," he said. "From there I went to the back of the field. We tried a different strategy to get us back up, but our car was just not competitive.
"We lost a nice opportunity today."
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Hulkenberg hails qualifying breakthrough
Nico Hulkenberg hailed his qualifying performance as a breakthrough after reaching Q3 ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The Williams rookie will start the race from fifth position after having reached the final qualifying segment for the first time.
Hulkenberg also qualified two places ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
"Yeah, good success," Hulkenberg told the BBC. "I mean finally a bit like a breakthrough. I'm obviously very happy even though I think it's very tight - the guys in front, I could have had them.
"Not an ideal lap but it's very difficult in these conditions anyway, but I'm quite happy where I am and happy for the team as well."
The German admitted it will be a big day for him tomorrow, but he claimed he is ready to attack to get a good result.
"It is, but I'll just get out there and get my job done, at least try to maintain my position and in the best case gain places. I'll not be shy."
The Williams rookie will start the race from fifth position after having reached the final qualifying segment for the first time.
Hulkenberg also qualified two places ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
"Yeah, good success," Hulkenberg told the BBC. "I mean finally a bit like a breakthrough. I'm obviously very happy even though I think it's very tight - the guys in front, I could have had them.
"Not an ideal lap but it's very difficult in these conditions anyway, but I'm quite happy where I am and happy for the team as well."
The German admitted it will be a big day for him tomorrow, but he claimed he is ready to attack to get a good result.
"It is, but I'll just get out there and get my job done, at least try to maintain my position and in the best case gain places. I'll not be shy."
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